ORANGE — The Orange County Transportation Authority reallocated resources from lower- to higher-performing bus routes in two major service changes last year in an effort to reverse ridership declines – and it seems to be working for those bolstered lines.
While total average weekday ridership dropped 2.9 percent from March 2016 to March 2017, ridership on routes improved in June and October overhauls increased by 4.2 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively, according to an OCTA staff report presented to the board on Monday, May 22.
“Continued investment in productive routes appears to be helping stem the ridership declines,” the staff report states.
The OCTA board in 2015 endorsed the OC Bus 360 program aimed at drawing existing and new customers by reducing travel time and improving speeds for frequently used routes, particularly those in the county’s central core. Resources were taken from routes with fewer passengers, and some areas including parts of South County lost bus service.
“I think we’re beginning to make some good strides forward,” OCTA board member Al Murray said of the OC Bus 360 update.
OCTA’s fixed-route bus service in fiscal year 2014-15 had 47 million boardings – the lowest level since fiscal year 1996-97.
Regionally, ridership is also down on bus systems run by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Beach Transit, Riverside Transit, Omnitrans and the North County Transit District, among others.
Major factors contributing to ridership decline include falling gas prices, a rise in housing prices leading to households moving to the “exurbs,” declining immigration and post-recession employment changes, according to a recent UCLA presentation to OCTA.
Staff plan to continue the OC Bus 360 initiative through strategies such as instituting fixed-route changes and testing new technologies.
Separately, on Monday, the board received a staff proposal for bus service reductions during the regularly scheduled October service changes. While the majority of bus lines will see no change, 17 are slated for reduced service, 14 are scheduled to see improved service and six would see a fare increase.
The six lines identified for a fare increase are bus routes 212, 213, 216, 701, 721 and 794.
Staff will return in July with the final October service change proposal, for board approval.